Page 32 of Icebound

Art school? Nina?

I glance down at her. “What’s going on?”

She lifts her eyes, guilt all over her face, and the impact hits me harder than a body check to the boards. “Sorry, I was going to tell you…”

“Going to tell me what?” I demand, whispering low so our audience can’t hear.

She coughs. “That I’m in college. Art school, specifically.”

I drop my hands like her shoulders are made of fire. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-two,” she admits, cheeks turning pink.

It takes every ounce of self-control to keep my face neutral, especially in front of her ex because I don’t want to embarrass her. I take a hard look at Nina. The nose piercing, the backpack by the door—it all makes sense now.

How did I not see this? Damn, I really am gullible. I must be denser than Cruz after six tequila shots.

I can’t believe I’d been thinking about sucking her nipples into my mouth. I rake a hand through my hair, wishing I had on my helmet, so I could bang my idiotic head against the wall. Of course I’d be attracted to a younger woman.

It must be the curse of my DNA.

Sure, I joked about being a plumber when we first met, but I didn’t keep it going for two weeks. Is this all some game to her? She owes me an explanation for everything hidden in those stormy hazels. Eleven years might not be a big deal for some people, but it’s a big fucking deal for me. That’s an entire decade between us. I don’t want people thinking I’m some older asshole taking advantage of a younger woman.

Nina gulps. “Can we talk for a second?”

I cross my arms, looking down at her. “I think that’d be a wise decision.”

Great. Now I sound like I’m about to bend her over my knee and spank her. Not the visual I need when I’m still hard.

“Okay…” Nina sucks her bottom lip between her teeth. “Do you want me to get your belt?”

My lips twitch. Dammit. This woman.

No.

Not woman—girl.

8

NINA

Isee why people call Rhode Tremblay the Wall of Steel. On quivering legs, I follow him out to the front porch.

Rhode slams the metal door to Gwen’s brownstone, irritation ricocheting off his muscular frame. The force is strong enough to shake the icicles dangling precariously from the ledge. It’s such a drastic difference that I shiver.

The biting wind nips at my cheeks, but it’s soothing after the intensity in the kitchen burned me to my core. I have to squeeze my legs together every time I think about him circling me with his hips to stop the arousal pooling in my body.

Normally, it takes me a while to relax in the bedroom if I don’t know someone, but Rhode’s playfully dominant demeanor put me at ease. He took control, which allowed me to let go.

That never happens.

Now, I’m imagining him on top of me, pinning me down with his massive body as he thrusts into me with that lazy smile, but I doubt Rhode will touch me again based on the way he’s dramatically dry heaving on the steps.

“You’re twenty-two?” He whirls around so fast he nearly slips on the ice but catches himself with quick reflexes. “Twenty-two? I take it you’re not a doctor unless you’re some child genius?”

I cross my arms. “How do you know I’m not a child genius?”

“Answer the question, Nina.”